Dharti Maa Ki Pukar: Environmental Ethics in Indian Philosophy
Kabhi socha hai, jab Ganga kinare aarti hoti hai, toh hawa mein sirf dhoop aur phoolon ki khushboo hi nahi hoti. Usmein ek silent prayer bhi hoti hai. Ek request, ek arzi – Dharti Maa ko bachane ki. Woh aarti, woh mantra, woh sab kuch hamaare darshan, hamaare philosophy mein chhupa hua hai. Aaj hum khojenge, kaise Environmental Ethics Indian Philosophy mein deeply rooted hai.
Itihasic Drishtikon: A Journey Through Time
Environmental ethics basically hai kya? It’s about hum kaise nature ko treat karte hain – with respect and responsibility, ya sirf as a resource to exploit. Ab India mein, yeh concept naya nahi hai. Yeh humare Vedas se lekar, Buddhist teachings, Jainism, aur modern environmental movements tak, har jagah dikhta hai.
Shuruwat karein Vedas se. Vedic texts jaise ki Rigveda (around 1500 BCE – 1200 BCE), nature ko deva, ya divine beings, maante hain. Agni (fire), Vayu (wind), Varuna (water), Prithvi (earth) – yeh sab devta hain. Unki pooja karna, nature ko respect karne ka tareeka tha. Isliye, pollution karna, forests kaatna, yeh sab paap maana jaata tha.
Phir aaye Buddhist aur Jain thinkers. Unhone ahimsa (non-violence) pe zor diya. Sirf insaan hi nahi, har jeev, chahe woh plant ho ya animal, sabke liye respect hona chahiye. Jain monks toh apne muh pe mask pehente the, taaki unse accidentally bhi koi chhota insect na mar jaaye! Imagine the level of commitment!
Zamini Sach: Logon Ka Jeevan Aur Prakriti
Agar aap ek purane zamane ke gaon mein chale jaayein… Let’s say, during the Mauryan Empire (322-185 BCE). Ek kisaan, Ramu, apni dhoti pehan kar subah subah apne bailon ke saath khet pe jaata hai. Uske paas chemical fertilizers nahi hai. Woh cow dung (gobar) use karta hai as manure. Yeh sirf efficiency ke liye nahi tha, it was a respect for the natural cycle.
Ma Rukmini, mandir mein jati hai. Waha pe woh tulsi ke paudhe ko paani deti hai. Tulsi, ek sacred plant hai, jo sirf puja ke liye nahi, medicinal properties ke liye bhi important hai. Woh plastic ki bottle use nahi karti, balki mitti ke matke se paani lekar jati hai.
These were everyday practices, deeply intertwined with their belief system. Nature was not just a resource; it was a part of their community, their family, their very being.
Dharohar Aur Pehchaan: Aaj Ki Duniya Mein
Aaj bhi, humare rituals mein yeh environmental ethics dikhta hai. Ganesh Chaturthi pe, pehle mitti ki murtiyaan use hoti thi, jo paani mein dissolve ho jaati thi. Ab plastic aur harmful chemicals use hone lage hain, which is a tragedy!
Holi pe natural colours ka istemaal karna, Diwali pe diya jalana – yeh sab hamaare ancestors ke lessons hain. Lekin hum bhool rahe hain. We are chasing progress, often at the expense of our planet.
Bharatiyata ka matlab sirf Jai Shri Ram bolna nahi hai. Iska matlab hai apne environment ko protect karna. Iska matlab hai Ganga ko saaf rakhna, forests ko bachana, aur har jeev ke liye respect dikhana.
Majedaar Tathya Ya Bhram-Bhanjak
Log samajhte hain ki “development” ka matlab hai concrete jungles banana aur nature ko destroy karna. Lekin asli sach yeh hai ki sustainable development hi long-term solution hai. Hamare purane zamane ke techniques – rainwater harvesting, organic farming, watershed management – aaj bhi relevant hain. We just need to rediscover them and adapt them to modern needs.
Drishya Aur Bhavnayein
Imagine the sound of the Ganga flowing, the feel of the cool earth under your bare feet, the smell of burning incense in a temple surrounded by lush green trees. Can you feel the peace? That’s the connection our ancestors had with nature. That’s the feeling we need to reconnect with.
Antim Vichar Ya Uddharan
“वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्” – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – The world is one family. This ancient Sanskrit phrase encapsulates the essence of environmental ethics. It’s not just about protecting our environment; it’s about recognizing that we are all interconnected – humans, animals, plants, and the planet itself. Let’s treat our planet like family, with love, respect, and a deep sense of responsibility.